I Finally got some new Furniture!

Today I went to Ikea and bought a new bookcase for my room.  After I arranged all of my schoolwork into binders I realized that I didn't have the shelving for the binders, plus the one tiny case that I had for my books proved insufficient.  I've looked at solutions to my book storage problem for a while and today I purchased myu newest piece of bedroom furniture.  Here it is:

Simple yet functional.  I'm happy with it, and I love the medium brown shade for the wood.  Once I start bringing in money I'll likely add a bed and a wardrobe to compliment the medium brown book case.  I'm looking for something small and functional.  Here it is, it's called the Engan and it's from Ikea:

I don't have a ton of stuff to hang up so I figured this wardrobe would do the trick.  I love the mirror on the door because it saves space.  By the way, if you're reading this post and you have any opinions about my choices please chime in.  The last element that I want to add to my bedroom is a new bed.  Well, I really want to get a new memory foam mattress as well, but all in do time.  A mattress is one thing that I don't mind spending good money on.  I figure we sleep for a third of our lives, so I may as well sleep on something that's really comfortable.  I'm a really light sleeper and I think it's largely due to my soft mattress.  I've gotten numerous complaints about it from people who have spent the night in my bed.  Anyway, first a bed frame because I currently do not even have one of those.  That's right, I just sleep with my box spring on the floor.  I used to think it was cool and now I just want a real bed.  It's funny how I've become such an old man.  Do you see how I excited I am about furniture? I'm crazy, I know this.  Here's the bed:

Off to do Chest and Back.  Last time I tried this workout I got sick, so hopefully I'll make it through this time.  I've been going crazy with no work to do, but the one nice thing is that I have the time to workout daily.  It's always important to find the positive aspects of any situation. 

Movie Reviews

As promised I have a couple additional movie reviews for your reading pleasures.  Let me begin with a movie titled Knight and Day featuring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (One of my favorite leading ladies in Hollywood).  I just had an epiphany: I think I'll do a dual Cameron Diaz review and include Bad Teacher in here.  Ok, so I'll begin with Knight and Day.  For those of you expecting great action, plot, and directing, you'll likely be disappointed here.  I honestly don't know why I expected more from this film but I thought it would be a nice mix of action and comedy.  The plot was mediocre and unoriginal and the acting was bearable, not great.  Throughout the movie Tom Cruise wore that annoying Tom Cruise smile that he can never shake, and after a while you're just thinking, "Dude you're getting shot at 24/7. Stop smiling!"  Diaz was gorgeous as always and of course the director put her in a bikini at one point, but overall this movie fell short of my expectations.  A couple of solid car chases (one in Spain) and one cool fight scene on a train but besides those scenes a lot of lack-luster filler material.  If you thought that these two heavy Hollywood hitters would lead to a solid movie, you'll be sorely disappointed.  Avoid this one if you can.

On to Bad Teacher.  Cameron Diaz was funny throughout the movie, and she actually addressed a real world problem for teachers these days which is being forced to teach their classes so that students will pass the state-mandated standardized tests.  Anyway, she was funny, and her struggles throughout the movie represent what a lot of Americans are currently going through due to the recession.  All good up until now right? So here's what killed this movie for me: Justin Timberlake.  His character was horrendously written and the acting didn't help much.  He was just this super annoying and geeky do-gooder who substituted because he wanted to give back to the community.  I was surprised because I've like JT in other movies like Alpha Dog and The Social Network, but in Bad Teacher his character and acting were just pathetic.  I think the writers are to blame more for this one, but overall his character ruined the movie for me.  I expected a lot more from this one.  I'm starting to think that Cameron Diaz really isn't that talented of an actress or she just had terrible luck in choosing movies.  What happened to the good old days of My Best Friend's Wedding and There's Something About Mary?  I miss you Cameron, come back to us with some better movies.

You're probably thinking that I hate every movie I see right? Wrong! Here's a movie that I really liked and I advise all of you to see: The Adjustment Bureau  starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (aka Gorgeous).  The movie features the theme of fate and concludes that we all live our lives according to a plan that most times cannot be changed.  Not only does the movie feature an interesting plot with plenty of twists and turns, but there are great effects with the scene changes and cinematography.  I'm a big Matt Damon fan and I credit his acting ability as the main driving force for my watching this movie.  Some actors rarely make a bad movie and Matt Damon is one of those actors.  As I flipped through the on demand menu for the three premium channels in my cable package I went back and forth on this movie for a while.  I thought it would be a sleeper, but it kept my attention from start to finish and featured scenes and conflicts that many people can relate to.  The only thing this movie didn't have too much of is comedy, but honestly it didn't need it.  Overall this movie was solid all around because it made you think.  As the viewer you were forced to not only guess what would happen in the plot but you're forced to relate the on-screen scenarios to your own life asking yourself "What would I do?"  If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend The Adjustment Bureau.  I also now have a new crush on Emily Blunt. 

Forgive me Readers for I have Slacked

Let me begin by saying that it's nice to once again have the time and mental strength to write for pleasure.  I stuck to my resolution of writing every day, but unfortunately a lot of that writing involved lesson plans and assignments for my students.  It's time for me to return to writing for pleasure.  After all, I do still want to write professionally (even though I have abandoned so many other career ideas).

Insert furious face here.  I just deleted a well written paragraph about what's currently engulfed my life.  Besides watching TV and exercising daily (finally back to it) I've finally had the time to organize all of my things-most specifically my papers from school.  I've done a decent job preserving schoolwork from Preschool through Graduate School, and I made a goal of organizing everything into binders with dividers (Can you tell I'm a teacher).   It took more time than I anticipated, and I threw out a ton of insignificant papers-filled up one of those large paper leaf bags-but I finally finished and everything is now organized.  Now I just need to go to Ikea and buy larger bookshelf so that I can put all of my books and newly organized academic papers on display.  I also had the chance to go through lots of other junk such as toys and other possessions, and I posted numerous things on craigslist while my employment status sits in limbo.  If you're curious about what I'm selling please let me know, and I'll tell you what I have.

So where do I go from here? Blurb about the holidays or movie reviews.  Maybe the horrendous year for football.  Decisions decisions.  People usually fancy my movie reviews so I'll start there.  Let me preface by saying how excited I am to write my Girl with the Dragon Tattoo review, but one of my good friends who reads my blog has yet to see the movie so a review will only happen after she sees the film.  Then again, a good review shouldn't be a spoiler, but I'd rather make sure that my readers go in with a completely clear and open mind.  Aren't I such a good friend? One of my finer qualities.  Anyway, here we go.  I've seen a bunch of movies lately so I'll do some now and some later.

I recently orders Road House (1989) starring Patrick Swayze, and it was awesome.  If you like Swayze as the ass-kicking cool guy then you'll love this movie.  Even if you don't, he lends a great chapter to the encyclopedia of bad-asses throughout this movie.  Swayze plays a "Cooler" or a head bouncer who is recruited for a job in an up-and-coming bar.  This bar lies in a town controlled by the wealthiest citizen, and the owner struggles to break away from the tyrannical rule of Brad Wessly.  The movie features plenty of great bar fights, one-liners, and pretty ladies.  Sure the movie is cheesy at times and has moments that make you say "That would never happen," but that's why it's a movie and not real life.  I highly recommend this movie to any Swayze fans, and for people who want to see the smaller guy win the fight.  I approve of Road House.  

Next up is a newer film that I recently watched titled Crazy Stupid Love.  Now this movie features Emma Stone, so I'm naturally conditioned to love it.  With those feelings side I'll say that the movie started off slow, but featured two major twists that changed my mind on it by the end.  Of course Ryan Gosling has to show off his abs and make me and many other hard working but unsuccessful exercisers violently jealous, but his transformation throughout the movie showed the dynamic aspect of the plot and storyline.  Steve Carrell was awkward and funny as always, and Julianne Moore lent her veteran acting experience to round out a solid cast.  Kevin Bacon did a nice job playing a d-bag home-wrecker, and I don't know why but it's just so easy to hate Kevin Bacon.  He's probably the nicest guy in the world but on camera he is easily one of the most hate-able actors in Hollywood.   He's got a great commercial though.  Let me try to find it an insert it below for those of you who've never seen it. 

Ok that's enough for now.  I have to go and do Kenpo X.  I don't know how but some people don't love that workout.  I think it's easily the best P90X workout.  Anyway Happy Holidays.  More soon.